Bethel
Underground Railroad and Abolitionist Sites

(19) Dr. William E. Thompson Boyhood Home Site

Dr. William Eberle Thompson (1835-1940), a noted Underground Railroad conductor lived in this home during the time he was active in the Bethel Underground Railroad Network. (137 Main St., Bethel)

(20) Tate Township Cemetery

This cemetery contains the burial sites of Bethel’s four most active members of the Underground Railroad. The individuals: Benjamin Rice, Richard Mace, Dr. William E. Thompson and Rev. Silas Chase, MD were all members of the Sugar Tree Wesleyan Church. Benjamin Rice (1814-1893), a Tate Township carpenter, often conducted slaves from Felicity to Bethel. Rice, frequently assisted by Richard Mace (1803-1894), transported slaves in a wagon with a false bottom, hauling oats as a cover. Dr. William E. Thompson (1835-1940), who had a medical practice in Bethel, became involved in the Underground Railroad as a teenager. Rev. Silas Chase, MD (1813-1864) was also a medical doctor with an office in Bethel. He founded the Sugar Tree Wesleyan Church in 1845, the first Wesleyan church in Clermont County. Chase was a member of the organizing committee of the great anti-slavery convention held in Cincinnati in 1850. (East St., Bethel - “between Cherry St. & Denham St.”)

(21) Bethel Baptist Church

The Bethel Baptist Church was organized in 1798, as an anti-slavery church. Obed Denham, abolitionist and founder of Bethel, donated two lots for the church to build a meeting house and cemetery. Denham placed a deed restriction, upon the gift, prohibiting the use by “those who hold slaves or commune at the Lord’s table with those who practice slavery”. The church became the first emancipating society west of the Alleghenies. The church joined the Baptized Licking Locust Association, an association of anti-slavery Baptists of Kentucky. Members of the church who were active in the Underground Railroad include Robert Vandosal and Gerrard P. Riley. (211 E. Plane St., Bethel)

(22) Dr. William E. Thompson Home Site

This was the home of Dr. William Eberle Thompson (1835-1940), who became an active member of the Bethel Underground Railroad network as a teenager. Dr. Thompson guided fugitives from Bethel to the Elklick area near Williamsburg. He would on occasion shoot hounds tracking the escaped slaves. Dr. Thompson practiced medicine in Bethel for eighty years and was active in village government and social affairs. (213 E. Plane St., Bethel)

(23) Old Settlers Cemetery

The Old Settlers Cemetery was the first cemetery in Bethel. The community was settled by abolitionists, many of whom are buried here. Obed Denham (1747-1817), the founder of Bethel, donated the land for the burial ground to the Bethel Baptist Church. These lots were given with the stipulation that the church not have communion with slaveholders. (North Main St., Bethel -“between Circus St. & Davis St.”)

(24) U.S. Senator Thomas Morris Burial Site

U.S. Senator, Thomas Morris (1776-1844) is also buried in the Old Settlers Cemetery. Morris was the only U.S. Senator to speak out against slavery from 1836-1839. Morris, an attorney, represented defendants in a number of slavery related cases. He ran for vice-president on the Liberty Party ticket in 1834. (North Main St., Bethel -“between Circus St. & Davis St.”)